Compressor mounting bracket

Abstract

A vibration suppressing mounting bracket for mounting the compressor of a vehicle air conditioner within a housing. The bracket is part of a mounting system for the compressor, the mounting system further comprising (1) a plurality of legs which are resilient mounts secured to the bottom of the compressor and to the housing, and (2) a pin extending from the top of the compressor which passes through a hole in a mounting plate, the plate also being secured to the housing. The bracket is formed from two arcuate segments which, when fastened together, form a substantially ring-shaped bracket which surrounds the cylindrical exterior of the compressor. The radially inner surface of the bracket is covered with a foam shock absorbing pad which is in contact with the compressor's exterior. The bracket is also bolted to the walls of the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle air conditioner compressor mounting bracket for mounting a compressor within an air conditioner housing, the compressor including a vacuum tube spaced from the exterior of the compressor and extending substantially parallel thereto, wherein said bracket (i) damps the vibration of the compressor to prevent the failure of any other compressor mounts, (ii) can be utilized with existing compressors, and (iii) can be easily installed and removed, said bracket comprising: a first bracket segment, comprised of a thin metallic strip which has an arcuate portion having an included angle of approximately 90°;   a second bracket segment, comprised of a thin unitary metallic strip which has an arcuate portion with an included angle of approximately 270°, so that when the ends of the second bracket segment are fastened to the ends of the first bracket segment, said segments together form an annular bracket;   a resilient padding covering the radially interior surface of the bracket segments, said bracket segments being sized and shaped so that when the segments are fastened together around the sides of a compressor having a substantially cylindrical exterior configuration, the resilient padding of the bracket contacts the exterior of the compressor, said padding becoming deformed upon the vibration of the compressor so as to damp said vibration;   two segment fastening flanges on each of the two said bracket segments, said segment fastening flanges protruding normal to the arcuate portions of said bracket segments and radially outward from the bracket segments, one flange being at each end of said segments, the flanges of one segment having holes which mate with holes the flanges of the other segment, so that the flanges can be bolted together to removably fasten the segments to one another, said segment fastening flanges and said second bracket segment being sized to permit said second bracket segment to be slid between the compressor exterior and the vacuum tube so as to facilitate installation of said bracket; and   two housing fastening flanges on said first bracket segment, one housing fastening flange protruding normally from each of the segment fastening flanges of the first bracket segment, said housing fastening flanges having holes therein so that said first bracket segment may be removably bolted to two walls of the housing, said walls disposed relative to each other at a 90° angle.   
     
     
       2. The bracket of claim 1, wherein said bracket segments are comprised of steel strips, and said resilient padding is comprised of a strip of neoprene. 
     
     
       3. The bracket of claim 2, wherein said steel strips have a width of approximately 1 inch in the axial direction, and a depth of approximately 1/16 inch in the radial direction. 
     
     
       4. The bracket of claim 1, wherein said housing fastening flanges have nuts welded thereon so that the first bracket segment may be bolted to the housing. 
     
     
       5. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the bracket is utilized in a compressor mounting system in which the bracket surrounds the sides of the compressor and the bracket is fastened to the side walls of the housing, said mounting system further comprising a plurality of legs protruding from the bottom of the compressor and fastened to the bottom of the housing. 
     
     
       6. The mounting systems of claim 5 wherein said legs comprise cylindrical vibration absorbing mounts which are fastened at one end to the bottom of the compressor and at the other end to the housing, providing a resilient coupling between the housing and compressor. 
     
     
       7. The mounting system of claim 5, further comprising an elongated pin protruding from the top of the compressor, said pin passing through a hole in a mounting plate, said mounting plate being secured to the top of the housing. 
     
     
       8. The bracket of claim 1 wherein said pad is sized to snugly engage the exterior of the compressor without being substantially deformed while the compressor is stationary. 
     
     
       9. The bracket of claim 8 wherein said compressor has a vertically oriented longitudinal axis, said bracket adapted to surround said compressor in a plane which is substantially normal to said compressor longitudinal axis.